Larry Toto asks if it is possible to restore his Chickering key tops of
which half are missing.  My answer is yes, but you will not be satisfied
with the results.

Ivory that is available for replacement is of different thickness and
color, and one has to search through hundreds of old ivories to find
matching colors.  Removal is easy, using a hot iron and a wet piece of
cloth.  Gluing them on is an art, and still it is possible to tell that
they have been replaced.

My advice is to have your keys recovered in synthetic covering which is
uniform and done expertly.  I understand that the best possible key
coverings are done by:

  Ted Oberhaus, Seneca Piano Key
  4977 Frontenac Road, Trumansburg, New York  14886
  tel: (607) 387-3095

Bruce Clark